France joined other nations in formally recognising a Palestinian state on Monday as President Emmanuel Macron warned that “nothing justifies” Israel’s continuing war in Gaza.
Macron was speaking at the UN General Assembly a day after the UK, Australia, Canada and Portugal made the landmark decision to support Palestinian statehood as global outrage over Israel’s nearly two-year war against Hamas in Gaza prompts a wave of support for recognition.
“The time for peace has come because we are a few moments away from no longer being able to seize it,” Macron said. “Nothing, nothing, justifies the pursuit of war in Gaza. Nothing. Everything compels us, on the contrary, to put a definitive end to it now, despite not having done so earlier.”